U.S. patent application number 10/116980 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-08 for behind-the-ear hearing aid.
Invention is credited to Vonlanthen, Andi.
Application Number | 20020106096 10/116980 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25738851 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020106096 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vonlanthen, Andi |
August 8, 2002 |
Behind-the-ear hearing aid
Abstract
A behind-the-ear hearing aid is provided with an
electric/acoustic transducer unit with a loud-speaker housing (53),
in which there is a loud-speaker membrane 54. The housing (53) is
spring-mounted in a capsule (59) in such a way that the capsule
(59) and the loud-speaker housing (53) define an intermediate space
(U.sub.53). The front (R.sub.1) of the membrane (54) is connected
to the acoustic output (S) of the hearing aid, while the back
(R.sub.2) is coupled to the intermediate space (U.sub.53) via
coupling holes (55).
Inventors: |
Vonlanthen, Andi;
(Remetschwil, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEARNE & GORDON LLP
526 SUPERIOR AVENUE EAST
SUITE 1200
CLEVELAND
OH
44114-1484
US
|
Family ID: |
25738851 |
Appl. No.: |
10/116980 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10116980 |
Apr 5, 2002 |
|
|
|
09340915 |
Jun 28, 1999 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/330 ;
381/322; 381/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 1/225 20130101;
H04R 25/48 20130101; H04R 25/604 20130101; H04R 1/2811 20130101;
H04R 25/556 20130101; H04R 2225/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/330 ;
381/322; 381/324 |
International
Class: |
H04R 025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 1999 |
CH |
PCT/CH99/00260 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A self-contained transducer module with a size enabling
integration into a behind-the-ear hearing aid device and comprising
a capsule with an opening; a transducer housing resiliently mounted
in said capsule and defining an intermediate space between said
transducer housing and said capsule; a membrane in said transducer
housing having a first side and a second side; a first space
adjacent said first side of said membrane communicating with said
opening; a second space adjacent said second side of said membrane
communicating with said intermediate space.
2. The module of claim 1 being an electrical/mechanical transducer
module.
3. The module of claim 1, said capsule forming a magnetic shield,
said capsule comprising .mu. metal.
4. The module of claim 1, wherein said capsule comprises a cup
secured to a closing.
5. The module of claim 1, wherein said capsule comprises a
cup-shaped member removably linked to a closing member.
6. The module of claim 1, wherein said transducer housing is
resiliently mounted in said capsule by elastic mounting
members.
7. The module of claim 1, wherein said transducer housing and an
inner surface of said capsule are substantially cube-shaped, edges
of the transducer housing and of the inner surface of said capsule
being substantially parallel, the transducer housing being mounted
within said capsule by resilient mounting blocks bridging the
transducer housing and the inner surface of said capsule along at
least parts of respective edge areas.
8. The module of claim 1, further comprising electrical
contacts.
9. The module of claim 1, wherein said intermediate space
substantially surrounds said transducer casing.
10. The module of claim 1, wherein said capsule is sealed.
Description
[0001] This invention concerns a behind-the-ear hearing aid with a
hook-shaped curved body that contains an acoustic/electric
transducer, an electric/acoustic transducer, and an electronic
unit. The electric/acoustic transducer has at least one
loud-speaker with a membrane built into a loud-speaker housing.
[0002] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention relates
to optimally using the space available on this type of hearing aid
and thereby simultaneously improving its acoustic properties. This
is achieved by a behind-the-ear hearing aid device that has a
hook-shaped housing and an acoustical output. A capsule is mounted
to the hook-shaped housing, wherein the capsule can be removably
snapped into place in the hook-shaped housing. An
electrical/mechanical transducer includes a transducer housing
resiliently mounted in the capsule. The transducer housing defines
an intermediate space between the transducer housing and the
capsule. A membrane is in the transducer housing. The membrane has
a first side and a second side. A first space is adjacent to the
first side of the membrane and communicates with the acoustical
output. A second space is adjacent to the second side of the
membrane and communicates with the intermediate space.
[0003] In this way, the intermediate space provided between the
hearing aid housing and the loud-speaker housing is used,
practically completely, as a space for improving the acoustic
behavior of the hearing aid. It was found that providing the
intermediate space mentioned increases the low-tone range by
several decibels. The acoustically effective space on the back of
the membrane is improved greatly via creation of the intermediate
space.
[0004] In one preferred embodiment, the capsule is used as a
magnetic shield and for this use is preferably made of .mu.
metal.
[0005] Extremely simple assembly and disassembly, especially of the
loud-speaker housing with the loud speakers, is achieved by having
the capsule include a cup, preferably a metal one, which is
attached to the hearing aid housing on the open side. In one
example, the construction permits snap-on connection.
[0006] The fact that the loud-speaker housing is basically
cube-shaped and is tensed along four of its parallel edges by means
of elastic mounting blocks in relation to the capsule, creates a
very simple, basically floating mount for the loud-speaker
housing.
[0007] The transducer unit also preferably snaps into the hearing
aid housing and makes electrical contact with no solder points. The
capsule fits into the housing so it can be removed, as mentioned.
In the preferred embodiment, the capsule and the loud-speaker
housing form a resonance space basically enclosing the latter on
all sides.
[0008] The invention of the behind-the-ear hearing aid in the
invention will next be explained giving examples with figures,
which show one embodiment of this device preferred today.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a simplified behind-the-ear hearing aid of the
invention in a longitudinal section;
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the hearing aid of the
invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the preferred design of a
battery compartment cover on the hearing aid of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the cover in FIG. 3 with parts
with left-right ear coding;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows, on one hand, the basic housing of the device
of the invention, and on the other hand, an added module that is
provided or could be, in a perspective view;
[0014] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of the electric/acoustic
transducer unit on the hearing aid of the invention according to
FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 7 shows a simplified, schematic view of a preferred
activating organ provided on the device of the invention; and
[0016] FIG. 8 shows schematically the unit in FIG. 6 to explain the
acoustic couplings.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a somewhat simplified longitudinal section of
the behind-the-ear hearing aid of the invention as a whole, where
the individual function blocks and function parts are first
described. The hearing aid 1 includes a horn-shaped curved, tubular
basic body with a central axis A, which has a connecting support 5
for a coupling tube leading into the ear on the thinner, uncurved
end, as an acoustic output. The connecting supports 5 can be
exchanged for a tube support 9, which is set on or screwed on a
basic housing.
[0018] The inner channel 7 of the connecting support 5 continues
through the tubular support 9 into a transmission channel 11 in the
basic housing 3. The transmission channel 11 in turn is coupled to
an electric/acoustic transducer arrangement 15 in one compartment
13 of the basic housing 3.
[0019] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the transmission channel 11
extends along the inner curve of the basic housing 3 in such a way
that there is room for a microphone unit 17 on the outer curve. The
basic housing 3 has a cover 19 molded into it in this area and in
the area of the culmination point of the device is stopped by means
of a plug 21. As can be seen especially in FIG. 2, the cover 19
extends along generating line M of the device body, up into the
area of the electric/acoustic transducer unit 15, FIG. 1. The
microphone unit 17 is accessible when the folding cover 19 is
removed and preferably makes electrical contact only on a flexprint
strap (not shown), folded over the transmission channel 11 and is
on a sound-input slot 23.
[0020] When the cover 19 is closed, at least two holes in the
microphone unit 17 are opposite an insert 25 in a slot 23 in the
cover 19. The insert 25 is acoustically "transparent" and has a
large number of passages between the environment U and an
equalization volume V, with the latter being left free between the
discreet microphone inlet openings (not shown) and said insert.
Preferably the insert 25 is made of a sintered material, such as
sintered polyethylene, and even more preferably coated so it is
water-repellant. It also forms a grid having a fineness between 10
.mu.m and 200 .mu.m with an open porousness of preferably over 70%.
Furthermore, the microphone unit 17 and the insert 25 are arranged
in the slot 23 on the hearing aid 1 so that when the hearing aid is
worn, they are exposed, if possible, to no dynamic air pressure
from the environment U, by being positioned, as can be seen in FIG.
1, in the area of the cup of the horn-shaped curved, tubular basic
body. Especially when an acoustic/electric transducer with
directional characteristics is made using at least the two spaced
microphones mentioned, due to the intermediate volume V, in the
sense of a "common mode" suppression, different coupled equal
acoustic signals along the insert 25 have a tendency to be
compensated because of the equalizing effect of the volume V.
[0021] The insert 25 also protects against dirt and is easy to
clean due to its preferred water-repellant coating.
[0022] Another advantage of the insert 25 with its large number of
passages is that all kinds of dirt have the same effect on both
microphones and there is therefore no worsening of the directional
effect (directional characteristic), which is a central problem
with conventional directional microphones with two and more
discrete holes. This is closely coupled with the aspect of the
above-mentioned "common mode" suppression.
[0023] Please refer to EP-A-0 847 227 by the same applicant
concerning this insert 25 and its effects.
[0024] After the electric/acoustic transducer arrangement 15 is in
the basic housing 3, there is provided an electronic unit 27, then
a battery compartment 29. On the outside of the basic housing, in
the area between the battery compartment 29 and the electronic unit
27, there is an activating switch 31. The perspective view in FIG.
2 clearly shows in particular the connecting supports 5, the basic
housing 3, the cover 19 with the sound-input slot 23 and insert 25,
and the activating switch 31.
Battery Compartment
[0025] A flat cylindrical battery or a correspondingly molded
storage battery 33 is inserted into the battery compartment 29 in
the end of the basic housing 3, in such a way that the axis of the
battery cylinder, with its front surfaces 33.sub.u and 33.sub.o,
lies at least basically coaxial relationship to the longitudinal
axis A of the basic body.
[0026] On the base 30 of the battery compartment 29, centered in
axis A, there is a first spring contact 35. A second 37 makes
spring contact with the side of the battery 33. The battery
compartment 29 can be locked with a cover 39 that is transverse to
axis A in the closed position and is swivel- or bayonet-mounted, at
41, on the basic housing 3 or on the battery compartment 29.
[0027] This transverse arrangement of the battery 33 on the hearing
aid has major advantages. The surface closed by the cover 39 is
relatively large and can be used further, as will be described
later. Because the battery compartment cover 39 is arranged at the
deepest place on the device and the cover impact points are
transverse to the axis A to the basic housing 3, penetration of
sweat into the battery compartment is barely critical. Furthermore,
with this battery compartment design, the contacts 37 and 35 inside
the compartment are protected, and the cover 39 has no electrical
contacts. Because the basically cylindrical space inside the basic
body 3 is used up, there is practically no unused lost space.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one preferred form of
embodiment of the battery compartment cover 39, designed as a
folding cover. With the snapping hinge part 43, it can be unlatched
from the swivel bearing 41, shown in FIG. 1, and locked. In one
preferred embodiment, it also has a lock 45, plus a spring catch
46.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows the cover 29 in FIG. 1 in an outer view. The
lock 45 can only be used from the outside with a tool, for example
a screw driver and has a slot 49 on a rotating plate 47 for this.
The plate 47, which is built onto the folding cover 39 when the
lock is mounted is specifically colored in two designs, for example
red and blue, so that this part is also used as an indicator of
whether the hearing aid in question is for the left or right
ear.
[0030] As was mentioned, the embodiment of the battery compartment
29 shown, especially the fact that the flat battery cylinder is
coaxial to axis A of the hearing aid, has another important
advantage. The hearing aid shown in FIG. 1 is a basic
configuration.
[0031] There is often a desire to equip this basic configuration
with more options, for example with an interface unit for wireless
signal transmission of a programming plug-in unit, another audio
input, a larger storage battery compartment, a mechanical
activating unit, etc. For this, the battery compartment shown in
FIG. 1 is reconfigured as shown in FIG. 5. The battery 33 is taken
out of the compartment and instead of it, the plug-in part 34 of a
corresponding extra module 51 is plugged in and makes electrical
contact at the contact points 35a and 37a for the battery
contacts.
[0032] To use such extra modules, it is always possible to provide
other contacts in the compartment 29.
[0033] The compartment 29a now acting as an actual battery
compartment with battery 33 is now provided on the extra module 51
and, accordingly, the cover 39, which is removed from the basic
housing 3, for example, and snapped onto the extra module or
snapped on like a bayonet. If necessary, more such modules 51 can
be stacked on the basic module of the hearing aid shown in FIG. 1.
The extra modules 51 are preferably attached with a snap-on part
43a provided on the modules 51, similar to the hinged part 43 on
the folding cover 39, as well as a snapping part 46a similar to
snapping part 46 on said folding cover 39 or, if there is a bayonet
lock, by being pushed in, turned and locked.
[0034] Thus it is possible to give the hearing aid the simplest
modular design desired so that the battery or storage battery 33 is
always accessible from the outside.
Electric/acoustic Transducer Arrangement
[0035] FIG. 6 shows a simplified view of the design and mounting of
the arrangement 15 mentioned on the basic housing 3 and in the view
in FIG. 1. Arrangement 15 includes, encapsulated in a loud-speaker
housing 53, the loud-speaker arrangement (not shown) with a
loud-speaker membrane. Through coupling holes, shown schematically
at 55, the sound waves excited by the loud-speaker membrane from
the space on the back of the membrane are coupled in the
loud-speaker housing 53 in the surrounding space U.sub.53 of the
loud-speaker housing 53. From the space on the front of the
membrane, the acoustic signals, shown by arrow S, are coupled to
the transmission channel visible in FIG. 1.
[0036] The loud-speaker housing 53 is held on all sides by elastic
members, preferably flexible rubber bearings 57, that are basically
free to oscillate. The relatively large space U.sub.53 is defined
by the bearings 57 between the outer wall of the loud-speaker
housing and a capsule 59, which leads to a substantial increase in
the low tones. The resonance space on the back of the membrane is
increased by a multiple by space U.sub.53. Capsule 59 and its
holder 61 are sealed to make space U.sub.53 acoustically effective
to the full extent.
[0037] Thus, acoustically, the storage volume for the loud-speaker
arrangement is optimally use. Capsule 59 also acts preferably as a
magnetic shield housing and is preferably made of .mu. metal for
this. It is designed like a cup and hooked on holder 61, which is
designed as a plastic support. The preferable flexible rubber
bearings 57 mentioned above are tensed between the capsule 59, and
the holder 61 on one side and the loud-speaker housing 53.
[0038] FIG. 8 shows the acoustic coupling explained purely in
principle. The membrane 54 of the loud speaker in housing 53
defines in the housing a first space R.sub.1, which is coupled to
the acoustic output of the hearing aid, shown by S, and a second
space R.sub.2, which is coupled via one or more holes 55 to space
U.sub.53 formed between the capsule 59 and the housing 53.
Activating Switch 31
[0039] FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the activating switch
31, simplified and schematically drawn. The activating switch 31
includes a tilt button 63, which is mounted on one side at 65 so it
can tilt.
[0040] The tilt mount 65 is molded on a slide 67 which, as shown by
double arrow F, is mounted so it can move linearly in relation to
the basic housing 3. As shown schematically with the spring contact
69 fixed in relation to the basic housing 3 and the bridge contact
70 on the slide 67, the device is turned on and off by the back and
forth movement of the slide via button 63.
[0041] The slide 67 has a groove 72 going through it through which
a contact pill 73 fixed in the housing 3 projects. This is covered
by a spring contact part 75 arranged on the slide 67, which is
preferably made as a keyboard element of flexible, at least
partially electrically conductive plastic, as is known for example
from remote-control keyboards. When the tilt button 63, as shown by
double arrow K, is pushed, the contact part 75 comes in contact
with the pill 73 and makes an electrical connection between these
elements. For the experienced technician, there are a great many
possible electrical connections, including a switching strip
S.sub.1, activated by the slide movement F, and a switching strip
S.sub.2, activated by the tilting movement K of the tilt button 63.
Preferably, as shown in dashes in FIG. 7, the spring contact 69 is
connected to the hearing aid battery 33 and the bridge contact 70
to contact part 75, and thus the contact pill 73 works as an
electrical output of the switching arrangement.
[0042] Thus, the activating switch 31 works both as an on/off
switch and also, in the one position, as a toggle switch, which
works, for example for fast individual amplification adjustment, in
steps on the electronic unit 27 in FIG. 1.
[0043] With the activating switch 31, two functions are combined, a
push switch and a toggle switch, a function melding that is highly
advantageous especially for the behind-the-ear hearing aid in the
invention. The operating difference ensures that there is no
confusion in function, which is much more critical when two
switches are provided for the two functions mentioned.
Design of Housing 3
[0044] As can be seen especially in FIG. 5, the basic housing 3 is
made up of a curved, correspondingly molded unmachined part. In one
preferred embodiment, this part 3 is designed in one piece,
preferably of plastic and is not, as is otherwise usual in the
design of such hearing aids, able to be separated into two shells
along generating lines represented by M in FIG. 5. This permits
ease of assembly and use. Another advantage of a tubular, one-piece
embodiment is its much greater stability compared to a divided
housing. This permits a reduction in the housing wall strength and
thus a reduction in the size of it, and with a given outer volume,
an increase in the usable inner volume.
Advantages of Overall Configuration
[0045] Looking at FIG. 1, it can be seen, especially in the
preferred one-piece design of the basic housing 3, that the
individual components, especially 11, 15, 27, 29 and/or 51, are
assembled by axial sequential insertion into the basic housing 3.
The shaping of the housing 3 with corresponding guides ensures
fast, precise positioning, and reciprocal electrical contact
between the electrically operated units is solderless by means of
spring contacting. Thus, the units to be provided can be tested out
in advance and measured and assembled afterward with no fear of
their being affected in any way. This assembly can definitely be
automated. The overall housing with basic housing 3 and cover 19,
if necessary 39, is provided with corresponding seals at the points
of impact that make it simple to seal tight.
[0046] The preferred design of the electric/acoustic transducer
arrangement 15 ensures optimum magnetic shielding of the loud
speaker and optimal acoustic sealing in relation to body
sounds.
* * * * *